Opinions on my 1903 Springfield

I recently acquired this 1903 Springfield and would like some opinions from the experts. It's serial number 6688xx with an SA 4-17 barrel and the stock has a boxed J.F.C. and very faint circle P proof. I know the handguard is a later WW2 replacement and I believe the bolt body is RIA. The bolt has a small S on the front of the handle and R 4 under the handle. As far as I can tell the rest of the rifle is correct. Also on the stock are two small star cartouches, one on the toe between the buttplate and sling swivel and the other on the heel. Do these have any significance or just Bubba being creative?

Thanks
Andrew

The barrel could be original. I don't know about the S on the bolt. R4 under the handle could be Rock Island. I had a similar stock with two stars. I don't know what the significance is, but probably not a Bubba. Nice rifle.

You have a very desirable WWI rifle with original finish. But, as you noted, the rifle has some replacement parts. I will point out that the stock is also a replacement from another rifle and is not likely original to your rifle. The stars have meaning, but the meaning is unknown at this time.

Hope this helps. Thanks for the pictures!

J.B.

Thanks for the info. I am also wondering what the "A" stamped under date on the barrel is for. Just an inspectors mark? I haven't seen it on any other barrels. The previous owner of the rifle was a collector who purchased it in the '50s and never fired it. It was still full of grease when I purchased it. The rifle has seen little if any use with a perfect bore.

Here are a few more pictures

According to Mr. Beard's steel lot codes for bolts on ViShooter's web site, the bolt should have a C6 or C7 on the bottom of the rear (safety) lug. You should be able to trade/sell the RIA bolt for a correct Springfield bolt.

The A means that, when the rifle was sent in for overhaul, that the barrel was determined to be in good enough condition that it did not need replacement.

Did I detect the dreaded afghan in Rick's photo?

It's hard to tell from the photo but your stock may have the early "high wood"on the right rear of the receiver ring. After 1910, the profile was changed to be rounded/sloped to prevent splitting. As stocks were overhauled, the high wood was ground off to the smoother profile. It has one stock bolt. Rear stock bolts were added starting in 1908. Later, a second bolt was added & many overhauled rifles had a second bolt added. Your stock appears to have escaped this.

Rick the Librarian has been sniffing bore cleaner again and went too far back in time. :madsmile:

The meaning of the "A" beneath your rifle's barrel date is unknown.

J.B.

Wow sniffing bore cleaner makes you go back in time. I wonder what drinking it will do.


Ehhh!!! taste bloody awful. EHHH!!! still taste bloody awful.






Disclaimer done on a closed course by a professional,kids don't try this at home.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DaveN

Ehhh!!! taste bloody awful. EHHH!!! still taste bloody awful.

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Why don't you try the linseed oil instead? I am actually sitting here with a bottle of (translated from the German) "Cold pressed linseed oil, rich in vitamin E" in front of me. Edible (or rather drinkable) quality - my wood only gets fed the best! But I think you might get digestion problems if you start on the BLO.

:wave:

No I use that for my tanning sessions here in Florida (not the leather tanning, though your skin starts looking leathery if you do it too much) but I'm told butter is the best, just don't do it around any cannibals. What was this thread originally about?

You guys kill me:thup:

I love it when even the pros appear to goof sometimes, it makes me more willing to try helping!

(Thanks Rick and John)

I can understand why Rick said that, I thought the same because that information had been posted as such on the forums in the past. Now I have to clear my mind with that info and go into the unknown reason for it as John stated. LOL, Ray

I must clarify my statement.

Up through 1912, the "A" beneath the barrel date did indeed mean that the barrel was on a rifle turned in for overhaul, the barrel had passed inspection, and could be re-used.

Around the beginning of 1917, however, the meaning changed and the new meaning is unknown.

J.B.